Match Preview: Rowdies at Hartford
September 26, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release
Matchday 31
Tampa Bay Rowdies at Hartford Athletic
Wednesday, September 27, 7 p.m. ET
Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT
Watch: Stream the match on ESPN+.
Listen: Tune in for live coverage on SiriusXM Fc's Chanel 157
The Tampa Bay Rowdies must put the disappointment of last Saturday's 4-2 loss versus Memphis behind them quickly as they head to Hartford for a midweek matchup. A win would move the Rowdies closer to guaranteeing a finish in the top four of the Eastern Conference standings and a home game in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs.
Tampa Bay will follow up Wednesday's match with a date against Loudoun United FC back at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday. Hartford and Loudoun United are the only two teams officially out of playoff contention, but the Rowdies will have to overcome a lengthy injury list to in order to secure positive results.
Defender Conner Antley and midfielder Sebastian Dalgaard both returned from their injuries last week versus Memphis, although Dalgaard was only brought on for a few minutes late in the match after missing the last 10 matches with an injury. Meanwhile, wingback Dayonn Harris was forced to leave early against Memphis with an injury and midfielder Jake Areman was unavailable entirely due to an injury picked up in training.
Perhaps the two biggest missing pieces versus Memphis were center backs Aaron Guillen and and Forrest Lasso, who were both out with hamstring injuries. With Lasso and Guillen on the back line, the Rowdies conceded four goals in a match for the first time since August of 2019. It was also the first time the Rowdies allowed four goals at home since November of 2013.
Cal Jennings Golden Boot Hunt
With four matches left in the regular season, Rowdies forward Cal Jennings is firmly in the hunt to claim in the USL Championship's Gold Boot, awarded to the league's top scorer in the regular season. Jennings has 16 tallies heading into Wednesday, one behind the league's current scoring leaders, Phoenix Rising FC's Danny Trejo and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC's Albert Dikwa.
Milestone Watch
Two Rowdies are nearing their 100th appearance for the Green & Gold. Midfielder Lewis Hilton is set for his 100th match with Tampa Bay in all competition this Wednesday in Hartford. The Englishman first joined the Rowdies in 2020. Defender Conner Antley is close behind with 97 appearances.
Hilton will join four of their teammates who joined the 100 club this year. Captain Aaron Guillen, veteran Yann Ekra, midfielder Sebastian Dalgaard, and Irishman Jordan Doherty all reached the milestone this season.
Injury Report
OUT: Leo Fernandes, Zach Herivaux, Abel Caputo
QUESTIONABLE: Forrest Lasso, Aaron Guillen, Dayonn Harris, Jake Areman
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 26, 2023
- Republic FC & Special Olympics Unified Team Play First Match on Sunday - Sacramento Republic FC
- Battery's Fidel Barajas Named to Week 29 USLC Team of the Week - Charleston Battery
- Terrific Trio Takes Residence on Team of the Week - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Carlos Harvey Named to Team of the Week - Phoenix Rising FC
- San Antonio FC Forward Nathan Fogaça Named to USL Championship Team of the Week - San Antonio FC
- Memphis 901 FC's Rodrigo Da Costa earns Player of the Week after first hat trick of career - USL
- USL Team of the Week 29 - Davila Lands Weekly Honors - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Hartford Return Home for a Second Matchup with the Rowdies - Hartford Athletic
- Memphis 901 FC's Rodrigo Da Costa Named USL Championship Player of the Week - Memphis 901 FC
- Match Preview: Rowdies at Hartford - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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